Well, Why even Try?

[MD2B_81]

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So, I am being quite honest here, and I am very uneasy doing so... I am NOT a dumb person. I really have a lot going for me, I really do!! But, I just viewed my crappy MCAT score of 20O. How lousy is that!! I know I can do better. I am obviously retaking in August. I am all full of emotion right now, and am very vulnerable, but want some support. I have a 3.2 cum GPA, LOTS of activities, certified pharmacy technician, many shadowing opportunities, as well as a volunteer at the free clinic. I know I have a lot going for me and can become a physician... but... some words, if you will. I would prefer MD but am more than happy with being a DO, but with my score, I don't think I even have a chance, right? So... in filling out my AAMCOMAS app, should I wait for next scores, or should I just apply now and see what happens... I am sure mostly rejections, and it is a lot of $$ to waste, but I also think I should try.

What do you all think... be honest but not condescending please!!

Thanks.

 

[OSUdoc08]

Take the MCAT in August. I went up 4 points without even studying. Good Luck.

It is advisable to send your applications in mid-summer. Note on the applications that the MCAT will be taken in August. (You don't have to send your April MCAT to AACOMAS if you don't want to.)

 

[adennis]

Take some time to get over the initial shock... regroup... get busy studying... and take the MCAT again in August...

don't let this crappy score get you down... you probably know now what to expect and can act accordingly.

good luck!
Andrea

 

[Amy B]

It's rough. I know. A whole lot of us have been there and know what you are going through. Try not to dwell on the score. I know that is easier said than done, but try really hard.

After you have recovered a bit, set up a study plan and set hours that you will study everyday and on weekdays. Stick to your plan and don't let anything interupt you. Go buy Kaplan and Princeton review books and go through each section in each book. Do all the practice tests you can on the AAMC web site. The ones you pay $80 And start studying your head off. Some many people do improve with the August test. Maybe it is due to the April test being a new thing to you and now you totally know what to expect.

Don't be bummed. I would finish your application for this year, but check the August MCAT spot so schools know you are taking it. That way all your stuff will be in the school's hands and most will wait for your new scores before they make a decision about rejection or interview. Some may reject based on GPA though, so be prepared for that.

Good luck. It will be ok. Chin up 🙂

 

[DireWolf]

Amy. Are you getting excited about starting?

What are you doing this summer?

 

[PublicHealth]

Amy. Are you getting excited about starting?

What are you doing this summer?

Interesting how so many people have to re-take the MCAT (myself included - went up 8 points after studying my arse off for 4 months). Perhaps this is AAMC's way of making a few more bucks?

 

[Amy B]

Amy. Are you getting excited about starting?

What are you doing this summer?

I am getting excited, but I have been so busy. We moved a few days ago so I am drowing in boxes. I had to take a break from unpacking and do something else so I hooked up my computer and started surfing SDN. 😀

How about yourself? Any great summer plans?

Publichealth, I do think a lot of people retake in August. Not all, but definitly a whole lot. I think maybe people do better in August because most people aren't in school and can devote more time to studying only MCAT.

 

[retarddoc]

MD2B_81,

Hey man, don't let it bother you too much. My academic situation was much like yours. I only scored a 20 on my MCAT's too. I also graduate college with a 3.25. One thing you have on me is your clinical experience, I had none. I did have alot of research though, which can help. Don't sell yourself short. Retake the MCAT's if you have to, but don't stress to hard. Apply at to the MD schools that you want. You never know how it will work out. I currently have a friend from undergrad who is at the Medical College of Virginia and she only scored a 24 on the MCAT and barely had a 3.0 GPA. Also, understand that being a DO does not make you any less of a Doctor. Apply to both schools without question. One thing I can tell you, is that DO schools due tend to bypass some of your academic shortcomings and look at "you" to see if you will be a good Doctor. Shoot, look at me, I was feeling the same way you are now. I am currently a 1st year at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine and I am doing great. And pursuing Osteopathic medicine was probably the best choice I could have made. Be confident, you might just surprise your self.

Allen


"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about Life - It Goes On."
- Robert Frost

 

[DireWolf]

I am getting excited, but I have been so busy. We moved a few days ago so I am drowing in boxes. I had to take a break from unpacking and do something else so I hooked up my computer and started surfing SDN. 😀

How about yourself? Any great summer plans?

Publichealth, I do think a lot of people retake in August. Not all, but definitly a whole lot. I think maybe people do better in August because most people aren't in school and can devote more time to studying only MCAT.

I am studying for USMLE Step 1 right now. 👎 I take it Saturday. After that I go home for a couple weeks to hang out with family and friends. And then rotations start in July. 👍


I agree with your assessment on the August MCAT. I only took the test once, and that was in August. Mainly because I wanted that whole summer for study time. It was a risk applying without an MCAT score, but it worked out.

 

[Kent]

I just got back my MCAT score too. It wasn't what I expected. (24N) I can honestly say that in a way it is a good thing. It has challenged my motives to be a doctor and let me re-evaluate what I want out of life. If you REALLY want to be a physician and can picture yourself doing it, any price is worth it. Even if you need to move on to grad school first to up your GPA. You're worth it. Do what you love. As far as being a DO...understand their philosophies and what makes DO unique from MD. Don't just think as DO as a lower form of med school. Use DO school or MD school as the pathway to your dreams. Best Wishes.

 

[sophiejane]

Sounds like it's time for my annual MCAT speech. 🙂

The MCAT tests one thing: how well you take the MCAT. As you said, you are smart. It's not about smarts. It's about playing the MCAT game. You just need to get back on the horse and become one with the game.

As for the DO degree...you should shadow a DO before you ever even think about applying to DO schools, if you haven't done that already. Don't use it as a back up--don't do it if you would truly prefer to have an MD. You will be unhappy if you do. Lots of folks change their minds once they shadow a DO, some even change it once they are in a DO school (a little late, but better than never). The ones I worry about are the ones who resent every day that they aren't going to be an MD.

I know how you feel about the MCAT. It's a beast and you are surrounded with people who were able to tame it better than you, but remember that only measures how good they are at that one specific thing--the MCAT.

My other advice would be to just take one more whole year--don't do the August MCAT. Take a whole year, study a little every day, get more clinical experience (with patients, in a hospital or dr.'s office). Maybe take another class or two.

You'll get there.

 

[daveyboy]

So, I am being quite honest here, and I am very uneasy doing so... I am NOT a dumb person. I really have a lot going for me, I really do!! But, I just viewed my crappy MCAT score of 20O. How lousy is that!! I know I can do better. I am obviously retaking in August. I am all full of emotion right now, and am very vulnerable, but want some support. I have a 3.2 cum GPA, LOTS of activities, certified pharmacy technician, many shadowing opportunities, as well as a volunteer at the free clinic. I know I have a lot going for me and can become a physician... but... some words, if you will. I would prefer MD but am more than happy with being a DO, but with my score, I don't think I even have a chance, right? So... in filling out my AAMCOMAS app, should I wait for next scores, or should I just apply now and see what happens... I am sure mostly rejections, and it is a lot of $$ to waste, but I also think I should try.

What do you all think... be honest but not condescending please!!

Thanks.

Apply now and see what happens, you may be suprised and get some interview invites. When you get you improved scores apply again, you can show off your new scores. The point is to get out there and let the adcoms know how bad you want in. Pound on the doors, do some sphincter slurping! Just don't ever give up! Eventually you will get in, and then you can piss off your uptight classmates by telling them your MCAT 👍 .

 

[specialkay]

Sounds like it's time for my annual MCAT speech. 🙂

The MCAT tests one thing: how well you take the MCAT. As you said, you are smart. It's not about smarts. It's about playing the MCAT game. You just need to get back on the horse and become one with the game.

As for the DO degree...you should shadow a DO before you ever even think about applying to DO schools, if you haven't done that already. Don't use it as a back up--don't do it if you would truly prefer to have an MD. You will be unhappy if you do. Lots of folks change their minds once they shadow a DO, some even change it once they are in a DO school (a little late, but better than never). The ones I worry about are the ones who resent every day that they aren't going to be an MD.

I know how you feel about the MCAT. It's a beast and you are surrounded with people who were able to tame it better than you, but remember that only measures how good they are at that one specific thing--the MCAT.

My other advice would be to just take one more whole year--don't do the August MCAT. Take a whole year, study a little every day, get more clinical experience (with patients, in a hospital or dr.'s office). Maybe take another class or two.

You'll get there.

I agree with Sophie and Amy - I'm sorry you didn't do as well as you expected but definitely try again. You never know. The cut off for DO schools is a minimum science GPA of 2.75 - with a 3.2 you should be OK for the primary cut-off. Don't apply DO unless you can see yourself explaining what osteopathy is for the rest of your life and gleefully putting DO after your name - or you will be unhappy when you could have just re-taken the MCAT and applied to MD schools you really wanted to go to.

The MCAT is a miserable test geared towards those who do well on standardized tests. Knowing the science as well as learning the tricks will serve you well. If I could give you any advice in addition to AmyB's and Sophie's it would be to take as many upper division science courses as you can. I went back and looked at the MCAT I took - if I had the physio, anatomy or micro that I have now I would have performed much higher.

However, after sitting in the library for six draining months studying for that thing and checking my answers, I also learned some MCAT tricks. Two of the math problems are wrong right off the bat and that I didn't need to read and understand the ENTIRE verbal passage to answer the questions correctly. Those two things helped me jam through that test with time to spare. I can think of some more but they're probably user-specific (I'm a bubble-at-the-end of each page kind of a person).

I know its hard not to stress about this - I was really stressed! When I got my scores I was in an office building at UCLA and asked a random lady if I could use her computer to check my score because I was so stressed about my results and wasn't going to be home all day. She kindly logged on and even tolerated my squeals of joy when I saw I did OK. Good luck!! And don't give up!

Kay

 

[Arsenic]

ah, time for crewDude to bust others chops in an all-knowing "arrogance."

cerb, wahoo, etc: MAN the F--K up.

if there was ever a purpose for my posting on SDN, aside from corrupting people with Ladder Theory, it would be to at least try to serve as an example that if i can do it, you guys certainly can.

my mcat? true, nothing to worry about. but the two things that matter most are gpa and mcat, and i didnt have the first half of that equation. i was in close to the same position you guys were, knowing in my heart i was fighting a losing battle and i STILL applied, to 35 schools no less. and i landed interviews at 7 schools. cerb, ive read your PoS and i know that thats the kind of thing they wanna see, so dont even give me this crap about you not being a smart guy.

well, ill grant you guys a little self-wallowing time here, and chalk it up to post-mcat insanity. but know that the national average is like 24N, and you guys almost definitely surpassed that. you think you learned it in crew, but until you apply it in real life, it doesnt mean ****: no matter how badly youre going to get beaten, you suit up and give em hell anyway. do it with a huge smile just to shine on every biobot youre going to meet on the trail. thats commitment to your craft and to the people you want to serve. even if you think its a losing battle (which im telling you it probably isnt) and you fight anyway, THATs the kind of doctor i want informing me i have terminal cancer.

should you know when to quit? yes, absolutely. but this is not it.

md2b_81,

I took that quote by uclacrewdude from a similar thread over in pre-allo. Thats about as good as anything I could possibly tell you.

Just work your ass off and try to relax on test day and I'm positive your MCAT score will pop up. Test anxiety is a b****, it got me the first time I took the MCAT and it probably got you too. I retook the test and ended up getting into the school I've always wanted to go to. Don't give up.

 

[MD2B_81]

Thanks all!! The initial shock is gone. Occasionally I still get a pit in my stomach about it... but I KNOW that this is what I want to do with my life. I eat, dream, sleep, and work all about medicine. I signed up for another $190 8 hour day of fun - but no test will get me. This time, I will take more practice tests, actually study hard on the verbal (which I arrogantly thought I could ace...lol) and keep on keeping on. I will still apply to both allo and osteo... but for osteo I need some DO shadowing experience. I contacted one in my area, but she never called me back... so time to be more aggressive. I find it very easy to get allo experience, but the DO is more difficult.

I also know I am not dumb... my grades are decent, I work as a certified pharmacy tech, I volunteer at the free clinic, blah, blah...all stuff that I really enjoy doing that will help me in the long run.

THanks for all you help, let me know if you have any more advice, oh wise ones. Further, any ideas on DO shadowing?

You're all great.

TIm

 

[specialkay]

Tim -

Glad you hear you're feeling better. I know its hard to get in touch with a DO - I made calls to a few who didn't call me back either, eventually I went onto Yahoo yellow pages, typed in DO and just started leaving messages. If you call when the office is closed you can leave a message without being interrupted, unless they have an answering service then I would call back during business hours.

Most DO's are enthusiastic about having someone shadow them but it takes a little while for them to get to know you at times. I would always offer, once I got them on the phone, to take them out to lunch because it shows I value their time and know they're doing me a favor. The one DO I ended up shadowing actually took me to a pharma company lunch so I didn't have to pay anyway, but even if I did (and I was living off loans and working full time before anyone bemoans my supposed elevated financial status) the $15 I would have spent would have been well worth the knowledge he shared with me.

Because you're still learning about osteopathy try to read the "DO's in America" book before you meet with them - it will give you a clear understanding of the history of osteopathy in America and make for a more interesting conversation with your DO. Also, try talking to some people about it if you're unsure of the reaction from family and friends. I just got home from a wedding reception - half the people knew about osteopathy, the other didn't. Those who did told me I was a "trend-setter" as far as having the holistic health aspect in addition to the western medicine - if they only knew how old osteopathy was! Its very cute. 🙂

Good luck with the August MCAT and this English Lit major wants you to do well in the verbal section!

Take care,

Kay